Chicago Reports Rise In Mumps

April 02, 1986

The Chicago Department of Health has reported an increase in the number of mumps cases, especially among children 11 to 15 years of age. In January, 154 cases of the contagious viral disease were reported, while only 7 cases had been recorded in the same period of 1984. The last year in which more than 100 cases were reported for a 12-month period was 1978, according to the city health commissioner, Dr. Lonnie Edwards. Edwards urged parents to review their children`s medical records and to update mumps vaccine shots, which protect more than 90 percent of those who receive them.